[USA] 14th Annual New York Korean Film Festival begins November 112016/11/06, Source,
The 14th Annual New York Korean Film Festival Announces Lineup for November 11th to November 13th, 2016 at the Museum of the Moving Image The Korea Society's New York Korean Film Festival returns to New York City's Museum of the Moving Image on November 11 to 13 for its yearly celebration of the best in Korean cinema.,...More

[Interview] Kim Jee-woon with The Lady Miz Diva2016/10/15, Source,
In the 5 years since our last chat with Director Kim Jee-woon, he made a full-fledged Hollywood film and then returned to South Korea to create his latest box office smash, "The Age of Shadows". Director Kim spoke with me about his spy thriller, based on real events during the Japanese occupation of Korea, as it premiered in New York City as part of Korean Movie Night.
We talked about his 20-year collaboration with acting legend Song Kang-ho, Oscar consideration, the influence of John Cassavetes and James Coburn, and he revealed the name of the lead actor for his long-awaited adaptation of Jin-Roh. Oh, and his leading lady, Han Ji-min, makes a cute cameo.,...More

[Guest Film Review] "Addicted"2016/10/15,
The 00's decade signaled a trend where romantic films were injected with supernatural and/or mystery elements, in order to stand out from the plethora of entries in the category. "Ditto" and "Il Mare" are two distinct samples, as is the case with "Addicted".
Two brothers, race-driver Dae-jin and carpenter Ho-jin live happily in the same house along with the wife of the latter, Eun-soo. One day, both siblings get into traffic accidents at the same time, although in different incidents,...More

[Guest Film Review] "A Bittersweet Life"2016/08/13,
Violent thrillers featuring gangsters have been S. Korean cinema's most successful export genre for many years, with quite a large number of films of the genre still being shot in the country. "A Bittersweet Life" is another entry in the category, which, despite not reaching the standards of the masterpieces of the genre (The Chaser, I Saw the Devil) is still, quite entertaining,...More

Lee Byung-hun and Lee Bo-yeong to come back with SBS drama "Advance"2016/06/29, Source,
Actor and actress Lee Byung-hun and Lee Bo-yeong are starring in the new SBS drama "Advance". They haven't signed contracts yet but they have a great amount of faith in the writer Park Kyeong-soo so it's very likely they are going to go with it.
Lee Byung-hun's comeback is actually quite meaningful as the last drama he starred in was the 2009 KBS 2TV drama "IRIS" which holds a record of over 40% in viewing percentage. Then he starred only in movies which were a timeless hit. In 2014, he was blackmailed by a couple of women in their 20s but he gained his reputation back with the movie "The Insiders" and diluted all negative views about him. Now he's back with a drama for the first time in 8 years,...More

Moviegoers Prefer Older Stars, Watching Alone2016/06/19, Source, Hwang Jeong-min and Kim Hye-soo have been named the most popular actor and actress in an email survey of 10,286 people by the Chosun Ilbo and ticketing site Max Movie. Kim was also voted best actress, while best actor went to Song Kang-ho. All three are all in their 40s, while only a few stars in their 20s made it into the top 10. The results clearly reflect the changing demographic of moviegoers in Korea,...More

[Asian Filmist Guest Post List] 5 Korean movies to watch from 20152016/05/07, Source,
While it is 2016 currently and Korean films are starting to pick up, it's good to look back at last year's films.
For many people, the end of last year was the era of Star Wars, since episode 7 came out. However, while Star Wars was watched by many Koreans here in Seoul, 2015 Korean films held their own. In fact, another movie, the Himalayas, outsold the famed science fiction film on opening week,...More

Lee Byung-hun to Present Oscar2016/01/25, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun has been invited as a presenter at this year's Academy Awards, his agency BH Entertainment said on Saturday. The ceremony, which takes place on Feb. 28, has come under fire for the overrepresentation of white artists in the nominations,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Inside Men"2016/01/16,
In recent years the domestic political situation in South Korea has taken a turn for the worse. The two major political parties have never gotten along that well, but public expressions of bald contempt are now all too common. I bring this up mainly to explain why "Inside Men" exists in the form it does. "Inside Men" is a classic Korean-style gangster drama disguised as a political thriller. Even so, several factors give away the film's true form- the violence, the sex, and the general motivation,...More

Inside Men (2015)2015/11/21, Source, "Inside Men"
Genres: Crime and Drama
Running Time: 130 min.
Directed by: Woo Min-ho
Starring: Jo Seung-woo, Lee Byung-hun, Baek Yoon-sik
Synopsis: Lee Kang-hee, an editor at an influential conservative newspaper, puts lawmaker Jang Pil-woo to the position of a leading candidate for presidency using the power of the press. Behind this, there was his secret deal with the paper's biggest sponsor. Ahn Sang-goo, a political henchman who supported Lee and Jang, gets his hand cut when he is caught pocketing the record of the sponsor's slush fund. Woo Jang-hoon, an ambitious prosecutor, starts to investigate the relationship with Jang and the sponsor believing it is the only chance he can make it to the top,...More

[Interview] No misunderstandings before conversing: Jo Seung-woo 2015/11/17, Source,
There's a lot of talk about Jo Seung-woo.
There are rumors that he is sharp, he's bad-tempered, he hates side scripts and that he doesn't do musicals unless he's paid a lot. Most of them are exaggerated or just plain rumors. He's not frequently published in media and it's hard to see him anywhere besides musicals and movies so he hasn't really had a chance to explain himself. Of course, there was no need to,...More

Lee Byung-hun, "I am nervous every time I work... I want to be a good actor"
2015/11/04, Source, It's been a long time. Lee Byung-hun sat down saying, "I'm looking forward to it".
There has been a lot going on. Last year, Lee Byung-hun was blackmailed of 500 million won by two young women who had a video of him. This story was fully revealed and affected his image as an actor. He became a father in March but he couldn't express how happy he was. Then his fourth Hollywood movie "Terminator: Genisys" was released and so was "Memories of the Sword" although he only showed his face every now and then.
Finally, he's having an interview for the movie "Inside Men" which is coming out this 19th. He filmed the movie while he was going through tough times. In this heavy subjected yet speedy political drama, he plays the role of Ahn Sang-goo, a political gangster who used to be a chairman at once but was betrayed to the ground and is out for revenge,...More

[BIFF] Stars talk in Haeundae, Busan2015/10/04, Source,
In Busan, stars appear day and night. More and more stars have participated in this year's Busan International Film Festival which celebrates its 20th this year. How exciting, meeting the stars of movies in real life. The stars in Haeundae have been responding to fans' support in various ways.
The opening was hot. The opening ceremony of BIFF was held on the 1st. Although the weather was rough with gale warnings, fans gathered to see their favorite stars,...More

Memories of the Sword (2015)2015/08/14, Source,
Genres: Action and Epics
Running Time: 121 min.
Directed by: Park Heung-sik
Starring: Jeon Do-yeon, Kim Go-eun-I, Lee Byung-hun
Synopsis: Three warriors from the Koryo Dynasty lead a riot. Due to the betrayal of Deok-gi, Pung-cheon dies. Deok-gi then tries to persuade Seol-rang to join his side, but she refuses. She then flees with Pung-cheon's sword and his infant daughter. Some 18 years later, Seol-rang is now blind and she trains Pung-cheon's daughter to use the sword for revenge,...More

[HanCinema's Digest] Cinema Snippets2015/04/25,
Hangul Celluloid reviews the strange and unsettling "Vegetarian", Lee Byeong-hun to star in another Hollywood flick, Claudia Kim (Soo Hyeon)'s acting career off to a flying start, and find out what South Korean films have been making waves this year,...More

Lee Byung-hun blackmail: Dahee's release2015/03/16, Source, Former Glam member Dahee, who blackmailed actor Lee Byung-hun for a great sum of money, has now been released from prison.
She posted on her Instagram on the 17th saying, "Mom, I'm sorry and I'm sorry again. Thank you for being my mother. Happy birthday, my angel mother - from your two daughters",...More

Lee Ji-yun, Dahee receive 3-year sentence2015/03/05, Source, The investigators have sentences model Lee Ji-yun and former Glam member Dahee to 3 years in prison each.
In the first trial of the Court of Appeals on the 5th, the Seoul Central Court claimed that the two of them aren't truly sorry about what they did and therefore sentenced them to 3 years each,...More

Lee Byung-hyun's Wife Announces Pregnancy2015/01/20, Source, Lee Min-jeong (left) and Lee Byung-hun
Actress Lee Min-jeong is 27 weeks pregnant, her agency MS Team Entertainment said Monday. Lee married fellow actor Lee Byung-hun in August 2013, but he was recently embroiled in a blackmail scandal with two other women. "We had to be deliberate over when to announce the news to protect her from the scandal", involving her husband, the agency said in a press release. "She will do her best for her family and not to disappoint her fans",...More

2 Women Jailed for Blackmailing Actor Lee Byung-hun2015/01/16, Source,
Two women have been jailed for blackmailing star actor Lee Byung-hun with a video clip that shows him making lewd remarks to them. The Seoul Central District Court on Thursday sentenced one woman, surnamed Lee (25), to one year and two months in prison and the other, surnamed Kim (21), to one year. Prosecutors had sought three-year prison terms. During the trial Lee, a model, testified she blackmailed the actor because he wanted to break off their relationship,...More

Lee Byung-hyun and Lee Ji-yun's secret text: Uncle says, "Lee Ji-yun's father is wealthy enough"2015/01/06, Source, While the text message between Lee Byung-hun and Lee Ji-yun, the so-called victim and blackmailer, has been revealed, Lee Ji-yun's parents had an interview in defense of their daughter.
Dispatch revealed text messages between Lee Byung-hun and Lee Ji-yun throughout the number of five times, claiming that they've met in person. According to the report the contents of the text involved comments like, "Is tomorrow going to be romantic?" and "In my head, romantic is you and that will be success". Which leads to the conclusion that they could have been dating,...More

Lee Byung-hun's case: Will the host become the master key?2014/12/15, Source,
It's been three months since Lee Byung-hun met model Lee Ji-yeon and Glam member Dahee blackmailed him. They watched the video that triggered the case and presented new evidence which was the text messages that was sent back and forth to each other.
The third hearing is this 16th at 2:40PM in Seocho, Seoul. The second trial was attended by Lee Byung-hun, Dahee, Lee Ji-yeon and their attorneys. The second trial made decisions on their right and wrongs,...More

Lee Byung-hun Testifies in Blackmail Trial2014/11/25, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on Monday.
Actor Lee Byung-hun appeared in the Seoul Central District Court on Monday to testify against two women accused of blackmailing him. Prosecutors had earlier asked for the two to be tried behind closed doors due to privacy concerns. The pair, a member of a K-pop girl group identified by her surname Kim (20) and a model surnamed Lee (25) allegedly threatened to publish a video clip in which the actor is heard to make lewd remarks unless he paid them W5 billion (US$1=W1,114),...More

Lee Byung-hun's second trial2014/11/23, Source, Lee Byung-hun is standing in court as witness to the Dahee and Lee Ji-yeon trial on the 24th. This case will be held private.
Dahee and Lee Ji-yeon acknowledged the fact that they blackmailed Lee Byung-hun of 5 billion won in exchange for a video that they recorded of him, but had different sides of the story. Lee Ji-yeon's attorney said, "Lee Byung-hun asked her for sex but she refused so he broke up with her". Lee Byung-hun's attorney claims that's not true. What will the actor say in the second trial? Dahee asked for favor of the court on 12 times and Lee Ji-yeon 3 times. They both submitted letters of apology,...More

Jeon Do-yeon becomes victim of Lee Byung-hun's fiasco2014/10/22, Source,
The after effects of the Lee Byung-hun incident is still ongoing.
This case made everything adjustable including his leading movies and other work that seemed to have nothing to do with him. The productions are concerned about eliminating any more talk about the case which might influence negativity on completed works,...More

Lee Byung-hun's Blackmailers Arrested2014/09/05, Source,
Police take two women accused of blackmailing actor Lee Byung-hun to the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office on Wednesday.
Two young women accused of blackmailing acting star Lee Byung-hun were arrested on Wednesday. They are 20-year-old member of a K-pop girl group identified by her surname Kim and a 25-year-old model named Lee,...More

Dahee and B were prepared to flee after threatening Lee Byung-hun2014/09/03, Source,
It turns out that Glam member Dahee and model 'B' were planning on fleeing the country after threatening actor Lee Byung-hun.
BH Entertainment stated through official reports, "This is a premeditated crime as the suspects schemed to steal from Lee Byung-hun and run off to another country, judging by the fact that they had already prepared passports to Europe. They asked for 5 billion won which refers to the special criminal law which can sentence them to up to 5 years in prison". This reference comes from the police,...More

2 Women Charged with Blackmailing Lee Byung-hun2014/09/03, Source,
Two women have been charged with blackmailing star actor Lee Byung-hun by threatening to publish a video clip of the actor making lewd comments at them, police in Gangnam said Tuesday. They allegedly tried to extort W5 billion (US$1=W1,018). One woman is a girl band member who debuted in 2012 and the other is a model. According to police, they claimed to have taken a video on their smartphone of the three drinking alcohol at the actor's home last month and exchanging lewd banter, and allegedly threatened to post it on the Internet unless Lee paid them off,...More

Lee Byung-hun, "The threats are from friends of a friend"2014/09/01, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun was threatened for a sum of money by two women in their 20s, in exchange for a video.
BH Entertainment reported on the 1st, "On August 28th, Lee Byung-hun was threatened that a private video would be released if he didn't pay money to the culprit. Celebrities have to deal with ridiculous matters such as this all the time, but we decided to make a police report about it for this particular matter",...More

Hallyu stars featured in Chinese movies2014/07/22, Source,
Hallyu stars are making it big in the Chinese film and drama industry.
For the past few years, Hallyu stars have been appearing in Chinese dramas, but it's been a common thing for them to appear in movies as well.
Drama casting is an important factor as it has everything to do with viewing percentage, but in films, ticket sales affect the success of the movie.
Like Hollywood cast Lee Byung-hun and Rain to target the Asian market, it seems like China shares a common purpose for doing the same,...More

When are Bae Yong-joon, Won Bin and Lee Young-ae coming back?2014/07/15, Source,
When can we see them?
Several writers and directors have been sending their calls of love but the actors remain silent. Top stars who are highly wanted have been gone for far too long. Lee Young-ae is one of them. They have been gone for a maximum of 9 years, enough for a mountain to change its form. They are on the top of the list but they are hard to see and now it's becoming frustrating,...More

Lee Min-jeong, "Lee Byung-hun is an amazing husband"2014/07/09, Source,
Actress Lee Min-jeong showed her love for husband and actor, Lee Byung-hun.
She was interviewed on SBS "TV News At Night" and explained, "He's a great husband. I told him I had an interview today and he said to say a lot of good things about him. He told me not to say the bad things. I am planning on a special treat for him as it's one of the three dog days",...More

Lee Byung-hun in "Terminator: Genesis"2014/04/23, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun has been confirmed to star in the Hollywood blockbuster "Terminator: Genesis" and is currently analyzing his character.
Database IMDB claimed, "Lee Byung-hun's name has been listed on the cast and his name is fourth on the list. Considering the fact that names are listed according to the amount of appearances in the movie, it seems that Lee Byung-hun is one of the main characters. It's not known yet what Lee Byung-hun's character name is yet",...More

Jackie Chan Invites Korean Stars to 60th Birthday Bash2014/04/12, Source,
Actress Kim Hee-seon (left) speaks at a party celebrating Jackie Chan's 60th birthday in Beijing on Sunday. /Xinhua
Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan has celebrated his 60th birthday with extended parties and invited celebrities from around the world. Starting with a concert in Beijing on Sunday, on the eve of his birthday, the star of movies like "Drunken Master", "Police Story" and "Rush Hour" has been holding events for five days in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. He has invited over 1,000 stars and movie fans to attend the celebrations. Around 30 Korean celebrities were also invited including actress Kim Hee-seon, actors Lee Byung-hun and Lee Seung-gi, and members of K-pop boy band EXO,...More

Jackie Chan Invites Korean Stars to 60th Birthday Bash2014/04/11, Source,
Actress Kim Hee-seon (left) speaks at a party celebrating Jackie Chan's 60th birthday in Beijing on Sunday. /Xinhua
Hong Kong actor Jackie Chan has celebrated his 60th birthday with extended parties and invited celebrities from around the world. Starting with a concert in Beijing on Sunday, on the eve of his birthday, the star of movies like "Drunken Master", "Police Story" and "Rush Hour" has been holding events for five days in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong,...More

Kim Woo-bin in "Twenty"2014/04/09, Source,
Actor Kim Woo-bin is playing the star role of the movie "Twenty" which is a story about three friends who just turned twenty; an age where you can do whatever you want, love whoever you want with opportunities abroad. One of the three lead roles is Kim Woo-bin.
The three boys, Chi-ho, Kyeong-jae and Dong-woo turn twenty and learn to expect, to experience and feel,...More

[HanCinema Feature] Historical Hysteria: Korean period films coming in 20142014/01/11, Joseon pirates, legends, swordsmen, angels and more coming our way in 2014...
Cinematic journeys back to Joseon and beyond have rewarded the Korean film industry with a string of profitable historical yarns, a trend that has got producers drooling with the prospect of tapping deeper into this regenerative cash cow. Recently, it's been Han Jae-rim's "The Face Reader" (9.1M admissions) that has had locals flustered and, in 2005, it was Lee Joon-ik's "The King and the Clown" that became the first Joseon-era flick to pass the 10 million admissions mark. It's big business with a cultural twist that locals enjoy supporting, international audiences love lapping up, and a trend that 2014 is keen to take advance of as a host of new retrospectives are getting raring to go,...More

[HanCinema's Hall of Fame Review] "The Good, the Bad, the Weird": Haw Yee for Kimchi Cowboys!2013/12/28,
The lesser-spotted 'kimchi cowboy' is a serious cinematic oddity, an unusual anatopism that causes one's head to cock uncontrollably and the eyes to somehow sharpened in disbelief. Kim Ji-woon, to his credit, is a genre gypsy, a marauding mixologist who, in "The Good, the Bad, the Weird", blends and bends the spaghetti western into a fermenting pastiche of a picture. The film's bold fusion of Wild West tropes and K-comedy antics made it a local favourite (6.8 million admissions-second that year only to Kang Hyeong-cheol's "Speedy Scandal"), and once it made the festival rounds its cult status was safely secured. The film itself is narratively numbing, frustratingly fused, and a prude with its post-climax cuddling, a real scratchy quilt of a film. But when we reach for skies and surrender to the chaos of it all, life under the Manchurian sun is actually blisteringly brilliant,...More

[Photos] 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival Red Carpet2013/07/18, Lee Byung-hun
The 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival will take place from July 18 to July 28 in Gyeonggi Province. On the themes of love, fantasy and adventure, a total of 230 films -- 135 features and 95 shorts -- from 44 countries will be screened this year.
Many actors and actresses attended and walked down the festival's glamorous red carpet before entering the pavilion,...More

Lee Byung-hun Ripped and Ready to Thrill in 'Red 2'2013/07/10, Source,
A still from "Red 2" showing heartthrob Lee Byung-hun flashing his six-pack and sculpted physique has been released ahead of the movie's world premiere on July 18. Lee is said to have worked out religiously and focused on training for his action scenes for over three months after receiving the script in order to fully immerse himself in the role of a killer,...More

The Korean Film Festival comes to Montreal2013/06/26, Source, In celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canada and Korea, a selection of 10 outstanding Korean films will be showcased in Montreal from July 4th to 10th, 2013.
Ciné-Asie, along with the major support of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, presents the first edition of the Korean Film Festival in Canada – KFF – which will be launched in five Canadian cities, highlighting Montreal in partnership with the Cineplex Odeon Forum and Mosaicultures Internationales Montréal at the Montreal Botanical Garden (an event that expects nearly two million visitors this summer), the KFF anticipates to receive a large number of visitors for its first edition. For the first time, the KFF website is composed in three different languages: English, French, and Korean.
The KFF will present ten full length feature films and five short films.
The feature films are either the highest grossing movies in recent years, totalling 7 to 13 million admissions in South Korea, or have gained international critical acclaims, winning significant awards. Among them include Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta" (Le grand prix at Venice 2012), "Miracle in Cell No.7" (over 12 million admissions in Korea, 2013), and "Masquerade" starring actor Lee Byung-hun (over 12 million admissions in Korea, 2012),...More

'Secretly and Greatly' Blazes Trail at Box Office by Tapping Teen Audience2013/06/10, Source,
Director Jang Cheol-soo's "Secretly and Greatly" hit the 3-million mark in terms of cinema attendance on Sunday, just five days after it was released. The hit movie attracted 1 million moviegoers in 36 hours and 2 million in 72 hours as it continues to set a series of new records in the history of Korean cinema. It attracted a record number of daily spectators (919,000) on Thursday, saw the most tickets booked before its release, and reached the 1-million mark faster than any other Korean film to date. The film is a light-hearted comedy revolving around three North Korean agents who disguise themselves, respectively, as a village idiot, a rock star and a high school student while they await their orders from Pyongyang. When their mission turns out to be an order to commit suicide, due to a sudden power shift in the North, none are best pleased,...More

Korea's top celebrity couple to marry in August2013/06/06, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun, 43, and actress Lee Min-jeong, 31, will tie the knot in this coming August. BH Entertainment, actor Lee's agency, said, The couple will marry at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul at 6 p.m. on August 10.
Thanks for the attention and love from many people, the two people are set to tie the knot to build upon their meaningful love, actor Lee's side said. Actor Lee will faithfully continue his main job as actor, while also trying his best to become an exemplary husband of a family. MS Team Entertainment, actress Lees agency, said, No schedules have been fixed yet, but she will continue showbiz activities after marriage,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] April 20132013/05/04,
April proved to be a slow month at the box office as local films gave way to foreign favourites. It wasn't until last weekend that things were given a shot in the arm as Marvel's blockbuster "Iron Man 3" sounded the horn that cause more than 2 million fans to stream in. Tom Cruise's latest efforts in "Oblivion" held down the top spot during the middle weeks, leaving Jo Dong-oh's "Running Man" to be the only Korean film to taste gold in week one. The release of both "Oblivion" and "Iron Man 3" denied Kang Woo-seok's eighth film "Fist of Legend" any traction, leaving to sit in second place spinning its tyres for much of the month,...More

Pantech Aims to Take on Samsung with New Phone2013/04/20, Source,
Pantech unveiled its Vega Iron LTE smartphone on Thursday. It boasts a body made entirely of metal that can act as an antenna to boost reception and the world's thinnest bezel at 2.4 mm. on each side. It also features a five-inch HD screen, 1.7GHz quad-core CPU, 13 million pixel built-in camera and Gigabit WiFi support that is three times faster than the current WiFi standard and four times faster than LTE, the firm claimed.
Actor Lee Byung-hun poses with the Vega Iron at an event to unveil the gadget in Sangam-dong, Seoul on Thursday,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2013.04.12 - 2013.04.142013/04/15,
Korea's love for all things Tom Cruise proves itself once again this week as the Hollywood actor's new film "Oblivion" takes the top spot. The film is based off an unpublished graphic novel from the director Joseph Kosinski ("Tron: Legacy") and Arvid Nelson. Mr. Kosiniski said that the film pays homage to the 1970s and the science fiction films of that era. 530,069 (34%) admissions were enough for the film to hold first position over 638 screenings around the country. The film also stars Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Morgan Freeman, Melissa Leo, Zoë Bell, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The sci-fi genre seems to fit Cruise's acting persona well and the thousands of Korean cinephiles that came out over the weekend to see him in action would not disagree,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2013.04.05 ~ 2013.04.072013/04/08, Jo Dong-oh's action thriller "Running Man" is off to a good start as it snatched the top spot in its first weekend out. The film claimed 501,908 (30.89%) admissions over 568 screens, only just pushing outs its closest rival "G.I. Joe 2" which came close itself with 464,619 (30.49%). "Running Man" stars Sin Ha-gyoon as Cha Jong-woo, a young man who accidentally gets caught up in a murder case and soon finds himself on the run because of it. This week's chart saw a number of new entries both local and foreign, in addition to some regular faces that have made the top ten their own the last few months. But overall admissions were low, with only the top two films seeing much action in this quieter week at the movies,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] 2013.03.29 ~ 2013.03.312013/04/01,
The second G.I. Joe film has hit the Korean peninsula and, with help of Lee Byung-hun as 'Storm Shadow' no doubt, has managed to secure first position. "G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation" snatched 708,267 admissions (43%) over 761 screens to make it only the second foreign film this year to make it to number one. The Korean actor Lee Byung-hun ("Masquerade" and "I Saw the Devil") shows that he still has quiet some pull with fans as the Korean public, after a relatively quiet March, have warmly welcomed his latest action efforts.,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "The Good, the Bad, the Weird"2013/03/15, Source,
The plot is simple enough- a mysterious treasure map is the key to the motivations behind about eight different distinct factions of individuals with their own motivations for acquiring it. There are possibly more. After a certain point it just gets really difficult to keep track of everyone in this movie, As a result, it gets to be a bit of a headache trying to keep straight which characters know what, when, and why. And it really isn't a whole lot of fun to guess why, either,...More

Park Chan-wook Retrospective at MoMI - Friday, March 1 ­ Sunday, March 32013/02/19, Source, Park Chan-wook, director, screenwriter, and producer, is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers on the international film festival circuit. To celebrate the release of "Stoker", his major directorial debut in Hollywood, The Korea Society and MoMI co-present a retrospective of his work. The special screening of "Stoker" (starring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode) will play on February 28 at 7PM at MoMI.
Park Chan-wook, a director, screenwriter, and producer, is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers on the international film circuit. To Celebrate the release of "Stoker", his major directorial debut in Hollywood, The Korea Society and MoMI co present a retrospective of his work. He debuted with 'The Moon is What the Sun Dreams of' in 1992, but he started to gain international recognition from the sensational movie 'JSA - Joint Security Area' in 2000 which The Guardian praised it as "airy, subtle and playful, and showcases the best elements of modern Asian cinema",...More

"Masquerade" bound to be a hit in Japan2013/02/19, Source, "Masquerade" which drew more than 12 million viewers in Korea signaled a hit in Japan as well.
The movie which was released in Japan with the name "The Man Who Became King" was seen by 42 thousand people in over 90 theaters on the 16th. It is one of 10 ranking movies that was released in Japan. It's been a long time since a Korean movie took to top 10 ranking in Japan,...More

Kang Byeong-gyu appeals to court2013/02/13, Source,
Entertainer Kang Byeong-gyu has been charged with not paying back money borrowed from a friend and was sentenced to 1 year a 6 months imprisonment but didn't obey court orders and has appealed to court.
According to Seoul Central District Court, Kang Byeong-gyu and his attorney appealed to court on the 8th,...More

Lee Byung-hun's figure being made2013/02/07, Source,
A Hot Toy figure of Lee Byung-hun is being made.
BH Entertainment announced that figure making company Hot Toy is making a figure of Storm Shadow which Lee Byung-hun played the role of in the Hollywood movie "G.I. Joe". Hot Toy is company established in Hong Kong in the year 2000 and makes hero figures of the characters from "Dark Knight", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Avengers" and more,...More

30-Something Leading Ladies Take Over TV, Films2012/12/07, Source,
The entertainment industry is suffering from a shortage of actresses in their 20s. Most movies and dramas that recently gained a certain level of attention mostly featured actresses aged 30 or over. Producers and filmmakers point out that it is difficult for them to find actresses in their 20s who are suitable for leading roles. Of the 20 most popular movies released this year, Park Bo-yeong, who starred in "A Werewolf Boy", is the only female lead in this age group. Han Hyo-joo, who is also in her 20s, appeared in the movie "Masquerade", which drew more than 10 million viewers, but her role is greatly overshadowed by both the male lead Lee Byung-hun and supporting actor Ryoo Seung-ryong,...More

MASQUERADE sweeps with record-breaking 15 wins at Korea's Oscars!2012/11/01, Source,
Film takes the 49th Daejong Film Awards by storm, taking top prizes for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and others. Beats out "Golden Lion" winner "Pieta" and domestic all-time box office champ "The Thieves".
"Masquerade" experienced sweeping success at this year's 49th Daejong Film Awards (Grand Bell Awards) on October 30th in Seoul, Korea. The awards ceremony is the oldest film awards ceremony in South Korea and is presented annually by the Motion Pictures Association of Korea, making it the equivalent of the American Academy Awards,...More

Art and Culture2012/10/26, Source, It's finally Friday and we have our Michelle Kim here with us for our last arts and culture segment of the week. Today, she'll tell us about the premiere of an American movie featuring a Korean actress and . Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young Let's start with the film. Which film is it and who is the Korean actress in it[Reporter : ] The film is "Cloud Atlas" and the actress is Bae Doona, who was in Los Angeles for the premiere on Wednesday,...More

MASQUERADE sets box office records in South Korea and expands across North America!2012/10/24, Source,
Since its South Korean release on September 13th and its North American release in select cities on September 21st, historical drama "Masquerade" has experienced sweeping success in both countries. In South Korea, "Masquerade" has been topping the weekend box office for six consecutive weeks, reaching 10 million in admissions and becoming the 7th movie in Korean film history to surpass the number. Following a Red Carpet Premiere at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with Lee Byung-hun and a limited U.S. release, "Masquerade" is now expanding to six more cities, including the brand new Angelika Mosaic in Washington D.C. See added list of theaters and release dates below:,...More

'Masquerade', 7th film to reach 10 million viewers2012/10/22, Source, Poster for "Masquerade"
By Rachel Lee The film "Masquerade" has surpassed the 10 million-milestone attendance, the film's distributor said Saturday. According to the Korean Film Council, the movie has drawn 10,041,566 viewers as of Sunday, becoming the 7th Korean film to reach the barometer of what defines a blockbuster here. It is also the second to reach the mark in 2012 after "The Thieves", which set the all-time attendance record earlier this month. The heist film directed by Choi Dong-hoon has attracted about 13.02 million people, beating out "The Host" (2006) that drew 13.01 million,...More

[HanCinema's Box Office Review] September and the Aftermath of the Summer Hits
2012/10/06, HanCinema's Korean Box Office Review (2012.09)
It took ten long weeks at the weekend box office to see off Choi Dong-hoon's "The Thieves", a monumental run that earned the film a recording-breaking 13 million admissions during that time. August was indeed the month its sales caught fire, and the month of September was just a glory lap as it gracefully bows out of the limelight and into the history books.
In addition to the re-writing of the history books, September showed a wavering level of enthusiasm for some of this month's foreign inclusions. Although, "The Bourne Legacy" was able to enter the second weekend on top, snatching 29.3% of the ticket sales in the process. This was the first time a foreign film had held the weekend number one since "The Dark Knight Rises" some seven weeks earlier. In fact, the shelf life for foreign films was on average 2~3 weeks in the top ten,...More

K-Entertainment2012/10/03, Source,
Hello, everyone. Im Lena with the latest K-pop news updates. Well start off with news about global sensation Psy. Last night, Psy whos at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the U.K. music chart treated some 8,000 Korean fans to a free performance at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in Seoul,...More

Lee Byung-hun stops in to say thanks2012/09/26,
In between shooting his upcoming Hollywood blockbuster "Red 2", Lee Byung-hun has returned home to express his thanks to Korean fans. Lee's agency announced yesterday that the Hallyu star wants to take part in next week's Busan International Film Festival "to say thank you to all those who watched 'Masquerade,...More

[Guest Post] Top 4 Korean Actors on Television2012/09/21,
Korean television is home to some of the most gifted actors in the world. Korean dramas, in particular, tend to put on display some of the best talents. And for those who want to watch Korean programming but live in the US, Direct TV offers international programming packages so you can watch the best shows and the top 4 Korean television actors,...More

Lee Byung-hun Talks About His Movies, Love Life2012/09/07, Source, "Masquerade" in which Lee Byung-hun plays a double role, will open on Sept. 19. The film revolves around Gwanghaegun, the 15th king of the Chosun Dynasty who was deposed in a coup. In the film, Lee plays the bizarre king, known for his mischievous behavior, as well as his double, a humble acrobat and bawdy joker who stands in for the monarch when the latter faces the threat of being poisoned. Although the role hardly fits Lee's action-man image, he said he was keen to avoid being pigeonholed. "If I had other talents, like performing as a singer or hosting a show, I'd be able to show many different sides of myself", he said. "But I have to focus on playing to my skills, and doing what I can through my acting. As I don't want to be get stereotyped, I prefer to play more versatile roles",...More

Prince-pauper tale gets election-year twist in 'Masquerade'2012/08/14, Source,
This film image released by CJ E&M shows actor Lee Byung-hun as king Gwanghaegun, right, and his commoner double Ha-sun in "Masquerade". The movie by Choo Chang-min is slated for a late September release. / Courtesy of CJ E&M
By Kwaak Je-yup With the presidential election only a few months away, "Masquerade" could not be released at a better time. Inspired by Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper", the historical drama about switched royal identities challenges the audience to think about the system of the government today, specifically the way we see the role of the nation's top job, according to Lee Byung-hun, the lead actor who plays the two protagonists,...More

Art and Culture2012/08/08, Source,
It's Wednesday and..you guessed it, it's celebrity news time with our Michelle Kim. But before we get into the latest celebrity updates, I hear she has information about an exhibition in London that she would like to tell us about first. Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young So what's happening in London,...More

'Bungee Jump' tells of complex love story2012/08/04, Source,
Will Aronson, left, and Hue Park wrote the music and lyrics, respectively, for the new show "Bungee Jump" based on the 2001 movie "Bungee Jumping of their Own". / Courtesy of Lee Soo-jin
"Bungee Jumping of their Own", a popular 2001 film about a love transcending time, space and gender, is being staged as a musical at Blue Square's Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Composer Will Aronson, who has worked previously with Musical Heaven, the musical's production company, and lyricist Hue Park told The Korea Times about their work, collaboration and friendship,...More

(42) Park Chan-wook: Director with blood-coated lens2012/07/04, Source,
Director Park Chan-wook, left, waves as he is awarded with actor Choi Min-shik for the grand prix for the film "Old Boy" during the award ceremony of the 57th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes on May 24, 2004. / Korea Times file
By Andrew Salmon Tension and violence sell, but this may not be apparent to the vast majority of fans of "hallyu", the much-discussed "Korean Wave" of pop culture that has swept outward from the shores of the peninsula since, roughly, the turn of the millennium. The two standout genres of hallyu, in sales terms, are clearly K-pop and K-soaps. Of the former, Korean management companies have come up with a winning formula, churning out a range of cute, well-trained and above all wholesome boy- and girl-bands whose appeal is very different from the rebellious, opinionated, drug-spattered figures who stagger across the stage of Western rock 'n roll. Soap is similarly sugar-coated: Most dramas are centered upon pretty boys and pretty girls in pretty clothes and pretty houses/landscapes engaging in genteel, "no-sex-please-we're-Korean" romances,...More

[Review] I Saw The Devil: revenge at any cost2012/06/01, Source,
Soo-hyeon unaware at the cannibal's home
Choi Min-sik is back as the psycho killer in the murder-thriller "I Saw the Devil". Min-sik's character, Kyung-chul is cold, ruthless and deceptive. In the opening scene Kyung-chul is seen assisting a young woman with a flat tire. Soo-hyeon, the fiancé of the woman in the car talks with her on the phone as she waits for a tow truck. She begins to get suspicious when Kyung-chul ominously hangs outside her car window. He strikes with brutal swiftness with a hammer, knocking her out. Later he drags her back to his kill-house where he hacks her up despite her calls for mercy,...More

Ha Jeong-woo, Ha Ji-won Voted Most Popular Movie Stars2012/05/21, Source, Ha Jeong-woo and Ha Ji-won have been voted the most popular actor and actress in Korea in an email poll by the Chosun Ilbo and the nation's largest film ticketing site MaxMovie.
Some 25,784 people voted from April 18 to May 5. The two drew 10.1 and 13.7 percent of the votes respectively. But Song Kang-ho and Jeon Do-yeon were chosen as the best -- as opposed to most popular -- actor and actress, with 18 and 23.3 percent.
Since the poll targeted online users of MaxMovie who had been to the cinema at least once last year, it probably reflects moviegoers' preferences more accurately than other surveys,...More

"Hallyu", Korean wave, will not last 5 years2012/05/18, Source,
Top, Girls' Generation, a popular K-pop group, pose with actor and co-guest Bill Murray on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on January 31. / Bottom left, K-pop girl group T-ara take part in a photo shoot. / Bottom right, Lee Byung-hun poses for the cameras at a press launch for a TV drama.
"'Hallyu' will cool down in four years".
Six out of 10 foreigners believe the recent fad for Korean culture - K-pop, movies and TV dramas and soap operas - will decline over the next few years,...More

Song Seung-heon returns to small screen2012/05/15, Source, Song Seung-heon walks down a street during a visit to Vietnam to shoot a television program this January.(Courtesy of Korea Foundation)
Heartthrob Song Seung-heon is coming back to his fans through the small screen.
Despite 16 years passing since his debut, Song, 35, remains as handsome and single as ever, coupled now with better acting ability. As one of the pioneers of "hallyu", or the Korean wave, his popularity continues to the rise, both in Korea and overseas,...More

Hollywood looks East with debut of korean film festival, June 23-242012/04/27, Source,
Grauman's to Host Korean Film Screenings, VIP Events and First-Ever Castings of Korean Talent
Hollywood, CA – An appreciation of all things Korean has swept into popular culture – from taekwondo to kalbi to K-pop – extending to a proliferation of film and television talent who trace their lineage to the Asian peninsula. This summer, Hollywood will offer an appreciation with the first Look East: Korean Film Festival, a celebratory weekend taking place Saturday & Sunday, June 23-24. Hyundai Motors serves as a Lead Festival sponsor of the festival,...More

2 Korean actors get stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame2012/04/25, Source,
Korean movie stars Lee Byung-hun and Ahn Seong-gi will get stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in June, according to a local movie promoter Wednesday.
The two will leave their hand prints in a ceremony outside of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on June 23 and 24, the 1st Look said. Their stars will be lined up on the famed walk alongside Hollywood legends like Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, and Harrison Ford,...More

Lee Byung-hun & Lee Min-jeong Deny Dating Rumors2012/04/17, Source,
Both considered top notch actors in Korean entertainment, the rumor mill has been abuzz about latest reports indicating Lee Byung-hun and Lee Min-jeong are dating.
One media source reported on April 16th that the 42-year-old actor and the 30-year-old actress had good opinions of each other from earlier this year,a nd had cautiously starting dating. After bumping into one another at various award ceremonies and other work-related gatherings, their work sunbae-hoobae (or senior-junior) work relationship blossomed into a romantic relationship,...More

'Battleship' Director Talks of Love of Korea Ahead of World Premiere in Seoul2012/04/06, Source,
Peter Berg, director of the US$200 million Hollywood blockbuster "Battleship", which will have its world premiere in Korea next Wednesday, said this week he feels a special connection to the country that is still technically at war with North Korea.
"My father, he was an American marine, and fought here in South Korea. And he was very proud of his time", Berg said during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday,...More

Presenting past, present of 'Korean wave'2012/03/26, Source,
A visitor looks at the "byeongpung", or traditional folding screen that shows Korean-style roofs on its digital screen at a Hallyu promotion booth set up inside the COEX center in Samseong-dong, Seoul, where the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit is being held for two days. (Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul)
The 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit is not just a summit for discussing nuclear security issues; it is also a great opportunity for Korea to promote its culture,...More

Finecut dials up Love 9112012/03/14, Source,
Seoul-based sales company Finecut has announced it will be selling the upcoming film "Love 911" starting at the Hong Kong Filmart next week. Starring Ko Soo and Han Hyo-joo, the film is about an unlikely romance between a dedicated firefighter with a painful past and a cold-hearted emergency room (ER) doctor who is solely focused on her career.
Notable investment and distribution company N.E.W. is financing and distributing "Love 911" in Korea,...More

Cherry Blossoms Expected to Bloom Early this Year2012/03/08, Source,
Many Koreans are glad to finally be able to see the first signs of spring, and when the first buds appear, the annual blooming of the nation's beautiful cherry blossoms comes along. Due to the unusually warm temperatures experienced in the country last week, these beautiful trees are expected to bloom ahead of its delayed schedule by four days,...More

K-celebrities now 12012/02/23, Source, Hwang Jeong-eum's Boyfriend Kim Yong-jun Enters the Military
SG Wannabe's Kim Yong-jun entered basic military training in Nonsan on February 16th.
Fans from all over the country came to see him off.
He shyly reveals his cropped hair!,...More

Lee Byung-hun To MC Ko Soo's Wedding 2012/02/16, Source,
Actor Ko Soo will be getting married on February 17th, to a woman 11 years his junior. The wedding will take place at the Dynasty Hall at the Shilla Hotel located in Seoul. It turns out that Ko Soo's fellow agency member Lee Byung-hun will be emceeing the ceremony!
Furthermore, actor Lee Soon-jae will be officiating while singer Gummy will be singing the congratulatory song,...More

Korea's most anticipated films of 20122012/02/10, Source, With the start of the new year, the Korean film industry looks to its brightest prospects. Kang Byeong-jin profiles eight highly anticipated films of 2012.
"The Fortune Tellers"In production. Directed by Sin Jeong-won. Starring Kim Soo-ro, Lee Je-hoon, Kang Ye-won. Produced by Dasepo Club, Saram Entertainment. Distributed by N.E.W.Release planned for the first half of 2012.
Korean fortune-tellers not only tell the future, but they also chase away ghosts. The background of "The Fortune Tellers" is Uljinri where a decades-old evil spirit rules. When mysterious accidents and events keep happening without avail, fortune-tellers from all over the country gather to hold a shaman ritual,...More

Lee Byung-hun Praised by Hollywood Co-star2012/01/18, Source,
A protagonist of "G.I. Joe 2", Dwayne Johnson, praised the actor Lee Byung-hun very highly at a meeting with Korean reporters after he finished a press conference for his movie "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island" held at Le Meridien Taipei on January 17. He talked about various episodes with Lee Byung-hun at the meeting. Lee Byung-hun will appear in "G.I. Joe 2" after he had appeared in "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra" by playing the Cobra organization's secret weapon named "Storm Shadow". Dwayne Johnson said, "I became a friend of Lee Byung-hun while we were filming 'G.I. Joe 2' together. It was such a great experience with him. He is an actor who has great presence,...More

Girls' Generation named best dressed in Japan2012/01/12, Source,
By Lee Hyo-won
K-pop group Girls' Generation Wednesday won a best-dressed award at a Japanese jewelry exhibition.
The nine-member band received a special prize in the women's category for best dressers at the 23rd International Jewellery (this is the official spelling) Japan (IJT) 2012, which opened Wednesday at Odaiba, Tokyo,...More

Big-budget films to open in 2012 2012/01/05, Source,
A scene from "The Thieves", which is expected to wow movie fans this year with its A-list cast. / Courtesy of Showbox/Mediaplex
By Lee Hyo-won While 2011 saw the release of some novel, genre-defying works, not many local films aside from "Sunny - 2010" and "War of the Arrows" (a.k.a. "Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon") managed to draw crowds at the box office. This year, a lineup of big-budget films featuring the return of big stars await moviegoers,...More

The Dark Side of Korean Drama - Part 22011/12/24,
As I said in my previous article, I decided to talk a bit about the various problems and cruelties of being a television actor, idol and celebrity in Korea. They are things that occupy my thoughts quite often, as a fan of Korean entertainment.
I was very glad to see people discussing the issues. The internet can get a bit heavy on the positive things sometimes, as a lot of fans seem to prefer denial and only talking about the good things, as reality can be too much to bare sometimes. But reality is not always bleak and problems have solutions too.
In this second and final part of my thoughts on the issue, I talk about the third big "culprit" of these problems, the audiences, and give a little closure and some ideas on how Korea could go about changing things for its entertainment,...More

Won Bin Becomes 'Actor of the Year' for Two Consecutive Years 2011/12/23, Source,
Gallup Korea conducted a survey to select the "Actor of the Year", and Won Bin has been chosen as the best actor for two years in a row. Gallup Korea said on December 22 that they had conducted a survey with 1,728 respondents from both men and women aged 13 or older across the nation from November 18 until December 6 to ask the best movie star of the year, and Won Bin obtained 11.3 percent of the votes. Gallup Korea let the respondents select two actors and counted the total votes,...More

Lee Byung-hun Awarded Presidential Award2011/11/22, Source,
After spending the past five months in New Orleans of the the United States shooting for the Hollywood movie "G.I. Joe 2", Lee Byung-hun finally returned home on November 21st.
As soon as Lee touched Korean soil, he was busy as the recipient of the Presidential Award for advancing Korean pop culture and arts,...More

Kim Yu-na Dolls to Hit Market Next Year2011/09/14, Source,
Molded figurines of skating queen Kim Yu-na and actor Ryoo Si-won will be available on the domestic and export market next fall, according to Seoul. The municipal government has signed agreements with two firms to provide a subsidy of W150 million to manufacture the dolls (US$1=W1,077),...More

Book probes transnational identity of 'hallyu'2011/07/29, Source,
Clockwise from left, scenes from the dramas "Dae Jang Geum" ("Jewel in the Palace") and "Jumong" and the film "Il Mare" / Korea Times file
By Chung Ah-young
K-pop fever has been reignited, as illustrated by the success of recent concerts in Paris. Fans that have yet to see Korean performers on stage are forming flash mobs and group dances as they clamor for more K-pop concerts. The popularity of K-pop culture has truly become international.
Korean television dramas, songs and movies originally grew popular in the early 1990s. The influence of "hallyu" or Korean wave, spread through Asian countries and reduced Western cultural dominance in the Asian market,...More

Remembering Park Yong-ha2011/06/27, Source,
To commemorate the first anniversary of the late actor Park Yong-ha's death, various memorial events are being held in Japan. / Korea Times file
Memorial wave for late hallyu star continues
By Chung Ah-young
Although the late hallyu star Park Yong-ha died a year ago, his popularity is not waning in Japan,...More

Lee Byung-hun Takes Photos at Studio Harcourt2011/06/22, Source, Lee Byung-hun became the first Asian male actor to have his photos taken at the famous studio Harcourt in France.
Hallyu star actor Lee Byung-hun (41) took photos at Studio Harcourt, which is famous for taking pictures of Hollywood stars and French celebrities -- a first for an Asian male actor -- his agency BH Entertainment said on June 20,...More

'Seoul's Got Soul' Coming to A Country Near You2011/06/21, Source,
Scenes featured in a National Geographic documentary about Seoul: the manufactured band Wonder Girls (top) and the ceremonial changing of palace guards in front of Deoksu Palace in Seoul /Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The National Geographic Channel has produced a 45-minute documentary about the Korean Wave called "Seoul's Got Soul" that will air in 59 countries including Japan, France and the U.S., the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Monday,...More

Even before "G.I. Joe" sequel, Lee Byung-hun gets Hollywood love call2011/05/29, Source,
Top star Lee Byung-hun received a love call from Hollywood with the "G.I. Joe" sequel coming up.
Management BH Entertainment revealed, "Nothing has been confirmed yet. He is currently looking at a project from a major Hollywood studio". It looks as though he will be meeting with the related people and get into details during the shooting of the "G.I.Joe" sequel.,...More

Sino cinema strikes back with costs for Hong Kong2011/04/05, Source,
A scene from "Aftershock", a mainland China-Hong Kong co-production that was the highest grossing Asian film in 2010 Koreans, mainlanders should learn from Cantonese filmmakers' mistakes'Hong Kong cinema's golden age waned as it saw too many movies featuring the same stars and stories. "South Korea is going through the same thing, and I fear the mainland will soon, too". By Lee Hyo-won HONG KONG - In the South Korean remake of "A Better Tomorrow", Song Seung-heon made a point of wearing dark shades and a long camel-colored raincoat for the part immortalized by Chow Yun-fat,...More

Weekly star scene2011/03/30, Source,
Show transcript
Next we have our segment of with Dami!
Hello Dami!
[Reporter : ] : Today on WEEKLY STAR SCENE, we're going to take a look at the issues that have heated up the entertainment industry during the week! First, we have some good news! On Monday, March 28th, one of Korea's most well-known bachelors, actor Jeong Joon-ho, tied a knot with TV announcer 이하정, who is by the way, nine years his junior! Without further a do, let's take a closer look,...More

Stars joining donation rush2011/03/16, Source,
By Chung Ah-young
Singers and actors are eagerly joining the ongoing donation rush to help Japanese victims hit hard by the recent devastating earthquakes.
Actors Lee Byung-hun donated 700 million won and Ahn Jae-wook gave 100 million won to the Korean Red Cross,...More

Major Earthquake in Japan: 'No More Bad News'2011/03/15, Source,
People in the entertainment business have begun activities to help Japan while they have had to cancel their schedules in Japan.
As the massive quake that hit the northeast Japan caused heavy casualties, many people in the entertainment business including Hallyu stars are offering heartfelt condolences and consolation one after another. In addition, aid groups have begun activities to donate profits to the victims from the major earthquake by holding events such as the "Rock Festival", which will be held in front of the Hongik University. The host of the festival revealed that they would donate the entire profits from the event to the earthquake victims,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "JSA - Joint Security Area"2011/02/26, Park Chan-wook's "JSA - Joint Security Area" made huge waves at the Korean box office during the early weeks of its release. The film became the highest grossing film at the time with a million eager moviegoers flocking to see it in its second week. A DVD of the film was even presented to Kim-Jong-Il during the 2007 Korea Summit, an interesting political gesture that resonates with the filmmaker's attempt to humanise the Korean conflict.,...More

Weekly Star Scene 22011/02/23, Source, Show transcript
Next we'll be moving on to our next segment of "Weekly Star Scene".
We have our Dami in the studio today. Hello Dami!
[Reporter : ] Hello, sean and 건영! Today for we're going to start off with Park Jin-young, who has debuted as an actor through the TV drama "Dream High", and has been chosen to be a model for a commercial. Let's kick off this week's with the latest news from this super-multi-entertainer.
Park Jin-young has been chosen to represent a laptop brand in its newest commercials. He is now taking his first steps as a model,...More

Here's To More Korean Talent Starring in Hollywood Movies!2011/02/12, Source,
By Daniel Matthews
Did anyone get a chance to watch the film, "The Warrior's Way"? It was pretty recently released (back in December) and starred Korea's version of Brad Pitt, Jang Dong-gun. Regrettably I missed this film. I was sorely disappointed that I didn't see it, not because I was excited about the latest tale of ninjas and warriors and ninja-like warriors. No, it was because of the fact that this was one of the very few recent opportunities that I would have had the chance to see a Korean actor opposite a Non-Korean actress in a "love interest" type of role on the big screen,...More

Find The Hidden Jokes and Puns In Korean Dramas2011/01/10, Source, These days, there's more to drama watching then drooling over the good looking characters and getting immersed into the intricate plots. There's now the fun of looking for the hidden messages or puns that the writers and directors are throwing into the mix. Drama viewers have been enjoying the art of deciphering these hidden codes. All in all, it's been creating a closer relationship between the viewers and the creative minds behind each project: directors, writers, producers, and of course the actors,...More

This Week's Cultural News12010/12/29, Source, In 2010, the audience met with a swarm of great Korean movies of every genre and style that was able to satisfy moviegoers of all types! Let's take a look at the characteristics of the popular Korean films of 2010.

[Interview : ] "I liked 2010 because more movies came out than in 2009".

[PREVIEW] SBS TV series "Athena"2010/12/03, Source,
Official poster for SBS TV series "ATHENA" [Taewon Entertainment]
"I don't want "ATHENA" to merely surpass "IRIS". I want it to stand up to comparison in the global market", production company Taewon Entertainment chief Jeong Tae-won said of the difference between KBS TV series "IRIS" and its spin-off "ATHENA" at the press conference for the latter held on November 30. But it is impossible not to compare the two to explain what sort of drama "ATHENA" is since it is based on the sucess of "IRIS", as well as the trial and error it went through, and the story itself takes off where "IRIS" left off,...More

Lee Byung-hun to Appear in Japanese Drama2010/11/26, Source,
Star actor Lee Byung-hun (40) will appear as a special guest actor in the Japanese drama "Diplomat Kuroda Kosaku", in which Japanese star actor Yuji Oda, who became popular through the drama "Odoru Daisousasen".
Lee Byung-hun's agency, BH Entertainment, said on November 25, "The drama 'Diplomat Kuroda Kosaku' will begin airing from January next year on Fuji TV. Lee will appear in a Japanese drama for the first time, and his appearance was decided by Fuji TV's ardent request",...More

Actor Lee Byung-hun to appear in Japanese drama 2010/11/25, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun [BH Entertainment]
Popular Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will make a special appearance in a Japanese drama set to go on air next year.
According to Lee's agency BH Entertainment on Thursday, Lee will guest-star in Fuji TV's new drama "Diplomat Kuroda Kousaku" (外交官??田康作), making it the first time he will take part in a Japanese series,...More

Movie version of TV series "IRIS" to be released next week2010/11/19, Source,
Poster of TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]
The movie version of Korean blockbuster TV series "IRIS" will be released next week.
A press release from the show's producer Taewon Entertainment announced Friday that "IRIS: THE MOVIE" will be available for download through contents distribution company cine21i on November 22,...More

'IRIS : The Movie' will reveal the secret of Lee Byung-hun's death2010/11/18, Source,
The secret of Lee Byung-hun's death in drama "IRIS" will be revealed through 'IRIS : The Movie'.
The screen version of "IRIS" is called 'IRIS : The Movie'. This was made with more stories than the drama with original story line. One official from 'IRIS : The Movie' said, “Due to motified story line, we had to do extra shooting. By this extra shooting, we reinforced the truth of IRIS and the sniper who killed Lee Byung-hun will be revealed. People are wondering wheather this will grow as big as "IRIS" itself.,...More

In Taiwan, 'hallyu pilgrimage' continues2010/11/15, Source, TAIPEI ― Back in 2004, Taiwanese people saw a swarm of travel agents promoting the so-called "Daejanggeum" tour named after the then popular South Korean drama, in their brochures and advertisin,...More

Korean TV series "IRIS" to win honor at Japan drama fest2010/10/15, Source,
TV poster for "IRIS" [KBS]
Korean TV series "IRIS" will be receiving a special honor at a drama awards festival in Japan this month.
The show's producer Taewon Entertainment announced in a press release that "IRIS", which recorded viewership ratings of 10.1 percent for its premiere episode in Japan, will be honored with the foreign project award at the Tokyo Drama Awards 2010 to be held at the Meiji Memorial Hall on October 25,...More

Lee Byung-hun named tourism ambassador for California2010/09/14, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun [Official Lee Byung-hun website]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has been named the U.S. state of California's ambassador for tourism, according to a press release from his agency BH Entertainment on Tuesday.
BH announced in a press release Lee will be appointed the tourism ambassador for the California Travel & Tourism Commission tomorrow at a commissioning ceremony to be held at the JW Marriott Hotel,...More

[INTERVIEW] Kim Tae-hee - Part 22010/09/13, Source, Kim Tae-hee [Beck Una/10Asia]
Beck Una: In "Grand Prix", the woman who always seeks victory first goes through the hardship of losing the horse she loves in order to discover the joy of spending time with her horse. Ultimately, nothing that is precious comes free. What have you probably lost from the point you started acting to now where you have just started to feel the joy in acting?Kim Tae-hee: What you've lost is probably ultimately what you've gained. I wouldn't know as much as I do now or be as strong if I had been hurt less and led an easy life. What I have lost is... privacy? (laugh) Beck: Well it's true that as much as your life has become abundant, it has become tiresome as well.Kim Tae-hee: I'm not the type that regrets easily. I think I'd take this road again, even if I could go back into my past. Should I call it fate? Always. I like how I've gotten where I am right now. I really don't have moments where I regret wishing I had done something in the past or reminisce that a certain point in my past was great. I'm the type that forgets everything and my memory isn't that great either,...More

"Reign of Assassins" to open in theaters on October 142010/08/26, Source,
John Woo film "Reign of Assassins"
Upcoming John Woo movie "Reign of Assassins" will be opening in local theaters on October 14, according to the film's importer Sane Company Inc. on Thursday.
"Assassins", starring top Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong and Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh, is about an ordinary postman (Jeong) with extraordinary martial arts skills. Yeoh will be playing a skilled female assassin and the two come together to fight off a gang and return the ashes of a mystical Buddhist monk,...More

"I Saw the Devil" to compete at San Sebastian film fest2010/08/24, Source,
Movie poster of thriller "I Saw the Devil" [Showbox]
Korean thriller "I Saw the Devil" has been invited to compete under the Official Selection category at the 58th Edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival next month, according to official website of the fest on Tuesday.
"I Saw the Devil", helmed by famed Korean director Kim Jee-woon, will be competing against 16 other movies by internationally recognized directors for the Golden Shell and Silver Shell awards at the fest to be held at San Sebastian, Spain from September 17 to 25,...More

The Seoul International Drama Festival, to be held from Sept. 1 to 10, will likely provide drama lovers a little bit more than just enjoying the storylines and characters.

First launched in 2006, the annual event will bring various events, showcases and a red carpet event invi,...More

"Slave Hunters" top 'Hallyu' content at Seoul Drama Awards2010/08/23, Source,
Official logo for Seoul International Drama Awards 2010 [Seoul Drama Awards]
Last year's smash hit MBC TV series "The Slave Hunters" will receive the most recognitions for its contribution to the 'Hallyu', or Korean Wave, at this year's Seoul International Drama Awards (SDA).
The Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee announced through a press conference on Friday that the drama itself, its producer Kwak Jeong-hwan and the show's main star Jang Hyeok played the largest role in contributing to the spread of Korean content overseas,...More

Lee Byung-hun says "'I Saw the Devil' makes you think of what you get out of revenge"2010/08/19, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
The latest movie "I Saw the Devil" is not this year's best picture. However, it is certain that "I Saw the Devil” is the year's most controversial picture. Throughout the movie there are many brutal scenes combined with director Kim Jee-woon's unique sense of humor, which has been receiving mixed reviews from the Korean film industry. Along with the results of the movie, one may wonder why actor Lee Byung-hun chose this project. Why would Lee, who has successfully made his debut into Hollywood, make a choice that is dangerous as a commercial film? 10Asia sat with Lee to ask him that question. 10: What is your thoughts on "I Saw the Devil?" I heard you were quite shocked after seeing the final production of the movie during the screening. Lee Byung-hun (Lee): It's not to the point where I was shocked. (laugh) I did feel that it was different from when I had first read the scenario because the film doesn't reveal all of the cruelty and violence. I thought that this project was unlike any other revenge film and I felt this powerful strength from just reading the script,...More

"The Man From Nowhere" tops local box office once again2010/08/15, Source,
Korean action movie "The Man From Nowhere" [CJ Entertainment]
Korean action film "The Man From Nowhere" maintained its title as the most-watched movie in the country during the weekend of August 13 to 15, scoring its second win on the local box office.
According to the Korean Box Office System (KOBIS) on Monday, "Man", which opened in theaters in early August, attracted more moviegoers this weekend than the previous three-day period, selling,...More

U-Know Yunho graces cover of HK's men's magazine2010/08/12, Source,
Korean singer and actor U-Know Yunho [SM Entertainment]
Korean singer and actor U-Know Yunho has graced the cover of this month's issue of men's magazine men's uno, according to a press release from SM Entertainment on Thursday.
SM said that U-Know Yunho has been featured on the cover of the Hong Kong edition of the publication's August issue, which was shot in the country in mid-May,...More

Korean actresses should be enjoying a nice long vacation on exotic beaches this summer — as male stars unabashedly show off their macho side onscreen there seems to be little room for the ladies.

The alpha male, as depicted through recent Korean cinema, has been reverting to a,...More

Han Chae-young signs with U.S. agency CAA2010/08/11, Source,
Actress Han Chae-young [BH Entertainment]
Korean actress Han Chae-young has signed with Hollywood agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency), according to her agency BH Entertainment on Wednesday. BH made the announcement through a press release, explaining that its overseas networks and previous experience in successfully launching actor Lee Byung-hun's career in the United States, contributed to reaching the agreement,...More

Kim Seung-woo joins TV series "Athena" cast2010/08/03, Source,
Korean actor Kim Seung-woo in an official poster for TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]
Korean actor Kim Seung-woo, who starred in blockbuster TV series "IRIS" last year, has joined the cast of its upcoming spin-off series "ATHENA", according to the show's producer Taewon Entertainment on Tuesday.
Taewon announced in a press release that the actor will be reprising his role from the original series, playing North Korea's top intelligence agent Park Chul-young who holds the key secrets to solving the mysteries left behind by "IRIS",...More

TV Stars' Fees Keep Spiraling2010/07/31, Source, TV production companies have long been complaining about the exorbitant fees charged by top stars, which drive production costs up to the point where even a hit series no longer guarantees profits for the producers. But their complaints have curbed neither the stars' demands nor the public's appetit,...More

Hallyu Stars Accused of Ignoring Korean Fans2010/07/23, Source,
It has continuously been pointed out that Hallyu stars who are actively performing overseas rarely arrange performances and events for Korean fans.
Hallyu stars reportedly consistently neglect Korean fans and usually do not have much contact with fans in Korea; on the other hand, they have adopted friendly images to the public overseas by holding large-scale fan meetings and releasing photo and music albums.
Hallyu star kwon Sang-woo, who evoked criticism with a hit-and-run last month, has raised controversy because he delivered a message of apology on his official Japanese fan website before his Korean website. After the news on his hit-and-run was spread, he just made a brief apology in Korea on the following day, which was June 25, simply by using the press release that his agency had distributed, but he still had not personally expressed an apology officially in Korea for three weeks after the accident. On the contrary, his agency had urgently left apology messages on the board of his official website in Japan on the very next day, which was on June 25,...More

Jeong Woo-seong to advertise Guinness Beer 2010/07/22, Source,
Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong [photographed by Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]
Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong will be lending his starpower to advertise Guinness beers, which produces world-famous dry stout beers.
This is the first time that the Irish beermaker has hired an Asian star to promote the brand, perhaps in a bid to seize Korea's alcoholic drinks market,...More

Lee Byung-hun testifies at Kang Byung-kyu trial2010/07/14, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun speaks to reporters after testifying at TV personality Kang Byung-kyu's trial at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office in South Korea on July 14, 2010. [Han Youn-jong/Asia Economic Daily]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun testified at TV personality Kang Byung-kyu's hearing today, the two confronting each other for the first time since being embroiled in a legal battle also involving Lee's former girlfriend.
The trial took place behind closed doors as requested in advance by Lee, commencing a little past 4 p.m. at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office,...More

Jeong Il-woo warns fans of Twitter impersonator2010/07/08, Source,
Korean actor Jeong Il-woo's picture posted on his fake Twitter page [Jeong's fake Twitter page]
Korean actor Jeong Il-woo is the latest celebrity victim to have his online identity stolen by a Twitter impersonator, according to his agency N.O.A Entertainment on Thursday.
N.O.A said in a press release that they have discovered that Jeong had a Twitter account opened up by an impersonator, similar to incidents recently reported by actors Lee Min-ho and Kim So-eun,...More

Lee Byung-hun, Wonder Girls and 2PM to Promote Seoul City2010/07/06, Source,
Wonder Girls in commercial for China
Seoul city official announced on July 5 that Seoul city will broadcast four kinds of TV commercials to promote Seoul city in foreign countries, in which Hallyu stars such as Lee Byung-hun, Wonder Girls, and 2PM appear. The advertising commercials for Seoul city were made in order to inform the world of the attractiveness of Seoul city, and the contents and themes were differentiated by different regions targeting Japan, China, South-East Asian countries, and countries in Europe and the American continent,...More

Singer and actor Park Yong-ha laid to rest2010/07/02, Source,
Actor So Ji-sub carries late actor Park Yong-ha's portrait and mortuary tablet to Park's burial site at Bundang Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea on July 2, 2010. [Han Youn-jong/Asia Economic Daily]
Singer and actor Park Yong-ha has been laid to rest at a private funeral attended by close family and friends.
The remains of the late star, who was cremated around noon on Friday, arrived at Bundang Memorial Park in Gyeonggi Province located south of Korea's capital of Seoul.
Actor So Ji-sub, carrying Park's portrait in his hands, led a procession of family and friends toward the burial site where song "STARS", from Park's last album, was being played in the background for the Buddhist ceremony,...More

Park Yong-ha's coffin borne out of St. Mary's Hospital2010/07/02, Source,
Korean actor So Ji-sub carries a photograph of the late actor Park Yong-ha during the coffin-bearing ceremony held at St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, Korea on July 2, 2010. [Asia Economic Daily]
The coffin for the late Korean actor Park Yong-ha, who committed suicide two days ago, was borne out of St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul earlier this morning amidst a sea of celebrities and fans attending the ceremony.
Actor So Ji-sub, a close friend of Park, led the coffin-bearing procession while carrying a photograph of the deceased, followed by Park's parents, family members and fellow actor friends. Several celebrities broke out into tears and started sobbing loudly,...More

Lee Byung-hun cleared of defamation charges2010/06/30, Source, Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Actor Lee Byung-hun has been cleared of defamation charges filed against him in March by baseball player-turned-TV personality Kang Byung-kyu.
The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office ruled Thursday that Lee is "not guilty" of defaming Kang who had claimed he was wrongly accused of his involvement in a feud between the actor and his ex-girlfriend identified by her last name Kwon,...More

Song Hye-kyo again denies cast in film with Wentworth Miller2010/06/29, Source,
Actress Song Hye-kyo [Lee Ki-bum/Asia Economic Daily]
Song Hye-kyo's agency has again denied a report that the actress has been cast in a Chinese film alongside American actor Wentworth Miller.
"It is not true that she has received an offer to be cast in the movie", an official at Song's agency SidusHQ told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Tuesday, responding to an article by local sports daily Chosun Sports saying the actress was being considered for a role in "Ji Xian Feng",...More

Lee Byung-hun to appear on ABC "Good Morning America"2010/06/23, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun in a scene from the film "I Saw the Devil" [Showbox]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America", one of the most popular programs broadcast on the American public network, according to the actor's agency BH Entertainment on Wednesday.
BH announced in a press release that Lee will represent Korea as a cultural figure on the morning show featuring a special segment commemorating the 60-year anniversary of the Korean War titled "Long War", set to air at the end of this month,...More

Han Chae-young meets with Hollywood agencies2010/06/22, Source,
Korean actress Han Chae-young [10Asia]
Korean actress Han Chae-young appears to be eyeing for a Hollywood debut, recently meeting with several major Hollywood agencies including CAA (Creative Artists Agency) and William Morris, according to her agency BH Entertainment on Tuesday.
An executive at BH told 10Asia over the phone that the actress, who left for the U.S. earlier this month, had meetings with several agents and producers who had shown interest in the star,...More

Lee Byung-hun's ex-girlfriend resumes lawsuit last minute2010/06/22, Source, Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun's former girlfriend has requested for a new date of pleading to be set last minute, resuming a half-year long legal battle against the actor which was thought to have been withdrawn.
"In the afternoon, we received a mail from her containing an application for a third trial regarding the compensation suit she filed against Lee", Judge Jung Hyun-myung at the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office said late on Monday, adding a new date of hearing would be set the following day,...More

Lee Byung-hun lawsuit withdrawn2010/06/21, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun's legal woes surrounding a former girlfriend have been settled, his agency said on Monday.
According to BH Entertainment, the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office concluded that a civil suit, filed against Lee last December by a Canadian-American woman identified only by her last name Kwon, has been withdrawn,...More

Jang Dong-gun's 6 months pregnant wife spotted2010/06/09, Source,
Six-month pregnant Ko So-young spotted on the streets of Hongdae [Y-Star]
Korean actress Ko So-young, six months pregnant with her husband actor Jang Dong-gun's baby, was spotted in the streets of Seoul last week, according to cable entertainment channel Y-Star on Wednesday.
Y-Star released photographs it had snapped last Friday of Ko, leaving a studio after a commercial shoot in the Hongik University area which is known for its various independent and underground culture,...More

Big Bang reveals 4th Japanese single2010/06/09, Source,
Big Bang's 4th Japanese single "Tell Me Goodbye" [YG Entertainment]
Korean boy band Big Bang released their fourth Japanese single today, according to their agency YG Entertainment on Wednesday.
YG announced in a press release that their single "Tell Me Goodbye", featuring the combination of their signature vocals and rap with a calming piano melody, went on sale in Korea today,...More

Jeong Woo-seong to attend Venice film fest with John Woo pic2010/06/07, Source,
Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong will be making his international debut at the 67th Venice Film Festival in September through new John Woo pic "Reign of Assassins".
According to the film's importer Sane Company Inc. on Sunday, the festival committee has invited Jeong and Woo to premiere their martial arts flick at the event, which kicks off in Venice on September 1.
Woo will also be receiving a lifetime achievement award at the film fest this year, organizers said,...More

"IRIS" soundtrack concert attracts fans in Japan 2010/06/03, Source,
The cast of TV series "IRIS" attend its celebratory concert in Japan [Taewon Entertainment]
Korean blockbuster TV series "IRIS" recently confirmed its popularity in Japan at sold-out concerts featuring the main cast and singers who participated on the drama's soundtrack.
According to a press release by the show's producer Taewon Entertainment on Tuesday, major Japanese broadcaster TBS had organized a series of concerts titled "Dramatic Live Stage" as part of promoting the show's current prime-time airing in the country,...More

[INTERVIEW] Producer Jeong Tae-won - Part 12010/05/31, Source,
Producer Jeong Tae-won [Beck Una/10Asia]
Some say he is a ruthless producer. Some evaluate him as an intelligent businessman. Some consider him as a brother who knows what being loyal is about. After fearlessly stepping into Jeongmuro [where the history of Korean film started] in his early twenties as a film importer, he later placed his name on the power list of commercial film producers. He also was the chief of an entertainment company which sees large profits from importing major films such as "The Lord of the Ring" series by utilizing his innate business mindset and close relationship with Hollywood's major film studios.
Then he successfully wrapped up production of blockbuster drama "IRIS" last year and in June is set to start filming "ATHENA", a 20-billion won spin-off of the series starring top Korean actors Cha Seung-won and Jeong Woo-seong,...More

[INTERVIEW] Producer Jeong Tae-won - Part 32010/05/31, Source,
Producer Jeong Tae-won [Beck Una/10Asia]Beck Una: You're well-known as being a producer who works closely with the actors. There are many actors who like you or you get along with and you run a management agency too. Jeong Tae-won: I always think of myself as their older brother. And that I should make the sacrifices for them first since I'm their older brother. But when I make new attempts, I expect them to engage in them for their faith in me rather than for the money. On the outside, Taewon [Entertainment] is perceived as a company which is overflowing with money but our organs are the only things that aren't held [as security]. (laugh) Every project is difficult in the beginning but the actors have always helped since they know their older brother is going to make a movie, not buy land, by making money. (laugh) Both "IRIS" and "71-Into the Fire" are also productions which would have been difficult to make without that trust. When a movie doesn't do well, the actors are the first people I feel sorry for. I wheedled them into doing it but I would leave a scratch in their life due to that film. It remains a debt in my heart. And I want to do whatever I can to repay that debt,...More

Free Screenings of Korean Films in NY2010/05/25, Source, In the run up to the 2010 New York Asian Film Festival the Korean Cultural Service is currently showing free screenings of Korean films. This is the third series of free screenings that the Cultural Service has held and this year focuses on some traditional Korean summer blockbusters. The series k,...More

T.O.P says visits amusement parks wearing masks2010/05/25, Source,
Korean singer and actor T.O.P at a showcase for film "71-Into the Fire" [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean singer and actor Choi Seung-hyeon, better known as T.O.P from idol group Big Bang, has said that he sometimes visits amusement parks with his bandmates wearing masks.
Speaking at a showcase for film "71-Into the Fire", held Monday at Seoul's Lotte World Garden Stage, the pop idol remarked, "When I feel stifled, I come [to amusement parks] to have a good time without people knowing. People don't recognize me because I wear a mask when I come",...More

Seoul City has started a tour program featuring the attractions that were used as backdrops on the KBS hit TV drama,...More

Jang Dong-gun, Ko So-young wed on May 22010/05/02, Source,
Actors Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young at their wedding ceremony held at Seoul's Shilla Hotel on May 2, 2010 [AM Entertainment]
Top Korean actors Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young got married in a star-studded wedding ceremony held at Seoul's Shilla Hotel on May 2, ending months of media frenzy over their 18-year friendship and romance.
The star couple, dubbed Korea's equivalent of Brangelina, held a photo and Q&A session several hours prior to the ceremony, answering questions by reporters about the wedding and their baby -- Ko is four months pregnant,...More

A mega-wattage celebrity couple has been born, after national heartthrob Jang Dong-gun and actress,...More

"IRIS" starts melting Japanese viewers' hearts2010/04/30, Source,
Actors Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee in a scene from TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]TV series "IRIS" starts melting Japanese viewers' hearts
TV series "IRIS", which made headlines prior to its airing for being assigned a prime time, 9 p.m. slot on TBS, has finally started conquering Japan. TBS, which had been involved with "IRIS" since its early planning stages, appears to be putting all its energy into promoting the series. The show's lead actors, Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee, visited Japan together prior to its premiere on April 21 and appeared on various variety shows on TBS over the next couple of days. The two stars made so many TV appearances that you could see them almost every time you turned on the television set,...More

Korean Wave: The New Generation2010/04/23, Source,
Official poster for SBS TV series "Shining Inheritance" [SBS]
Korean dramas stir new waves in Japan
Fuji TV's program "Hallyu Alpha" (Mon-Fri 2:07~3:00), which started airing on January 11 in hopes of creating 'a new Hallyu generation', has been receiving positive feedback. Back in 2004, Fuji TV had arranged a program called "Saturday Hallyu Wide Hour", airing dramas such as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Sad Love Story" but had cancelled it due to low ratings. This time, "Hallyu Alpha" tried to differentiate itself from other programs by playing uncensored versions of dramas, providing bilingual broadcast (in Japanese and Korean) and adding special features such as exclusive interviews with the cast and behind-the-scenes footage. MBC TV series "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" kicked off the program, followed by KBS' "Women in the Sun" in February,...More

Lee Byung-hun promotes "IRIS" in Japan2010/04/21, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun in an official poster for "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun took Japan by storm last week while on promotional tour for blockbuster TV series "IRIS", according to a press release by his agency BH Entertainment.
The actor flew into Tokyo on Saturday, where he was greeted by some 1,000 fans at Narita International Airport, and drew large crowds at various media and public appearances during his visit.
When he appeared as a guest on popular TBS television program "Akko ni Omakase!" on Sunday, several Japanese actresses reportedly paid a visit to Lee's waiting room to see the Hallyu star including Kuroki Meisa, who lent her voice for the drama's female lead, originally played by Korean actress Kim Tae-hee,...More

"IRIS" season 2 starts pre-production2010/04/20, Source,
Official poster for KBS TV series "IRIS" Season 1 [Taewon Entertainment]
Pre-production work for the second season of blockbuster TV series has kicked off amidst much hype and anticipation among fans, according to production company Taewon Entertainment on Tuesday.
Taewon explained in a press release that "IRIS" producers have started the casting process for the next season, even talking with agents for the actors from the first season such as Lee Byung-hun, Kim Tae-hee and Kim So-yeon and considering a new face to appear in the series as well,...More

Big Bang to sing Japanese soundtrack for "IRIS"2010/04/16, Source,
Big Bang members Seungri, G-Dragon, Taeyang, TOP and Daesung [YG Entertainment]
Korean idol group Big Bang will sing the main theme song for the Japanese release of the hit TV series "IRIS", according to Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Sports on Friday.
Sankei reported that the boy band will be singing a ballad titled "Tell Me Goodbye", which will be featured in the show's broadcast next Tuesday on Japanese channel TBS,...More

Lee Byung-hun warns fans his Twitter accounts are fake2010/04/08, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has warned fans that multiple fake Twitter accounts opened up under his name are fake, according to his agency on Thursday.
BH posted a message on the actor's official website, stating that "Lee Byung-hun has never set up a Twitter account in his name".
"We heard about Lee's [fake] Twitter accounts so we are informing fans that 'Lee Byung-hun does not use Twitter'. We hope fans don't get taken advantage of", BH explained,...More

Top Japanese actors provide voice-overs for "IRIS" 2010/04/05, Source,
Official poster for Korean blockbuster TV series "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]
Two of Japan's top actors are on board to provide voice-overs for the local version of Korean blockbuster drama "IRIS", according to Japanese daily newspaper Sankei Sports over the weekend.
Sankei reported Saturday that noted Japanese actors Fujiwara Tatsuya and Kuroki Meisa will lend their voices for the shows' two main characters, originally played by top Korean stars Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee,...More

Rain and Lee Byeon-heon Potential Nominees for MTV Movie Awards2010/04/01, Source, Rain and Lee Byung-hun have been named as preliminary nominees for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards and are now waiting for viewers' votes.
World-class music entertainment channel MTV released a statement on March 31 that the two entertainers made the list of preliminary nominated candidates for the 19th annual MTV Movie Awards, which will be held on June 6 in Los Angeles, California,...More

Lee Byung-hun named most influential Asian actor at CMA2010/03/26, Source,
Actor Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean star Lee Byung-hun will be recognized as the most influential Asian artist at the China Music Award and Asia Influential Awards (CMA) to be held Sunday, according to his agency BH Entertainment.
Lee will be the first Korean actor to receive the prestigious award at the CMA co-sponsored by the Chengdu Foreign Cultural Exchange Association and mass media group Channel V.
The event, now into its 14th year, will take place at the International Tennis Center located in the Sichuan region,...More

[ChanMi's movie news] Drama "Iris" made into a movie2010/03/25, Source,
The movie version of the hit drama "IRIS" will have a different ending.
The drama starred Lee Byung-hun as Hyunjoon the main character and ended with his death. There were many questions as to who killed this character. In the movie, the destiny for Hyunjoon and his attacker will be revealed all completely.
Hyunjoon's attacker will be one of his acquaintances from t,...More

Korean pic "Mother - 2009", stars win big at Green Planet Movie Awards2010/03/25, Source,
Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho wins Best International Director award at Green Planet Movie Awards held in Los Angeles, California on March 23, 2010 [Korea Green Foundation]
Korean film "Mother - 2009" and a handful of Korean actors picked up multiple awards including the prize for Best Foreign Culture Film of the Year at the 2nd Green Planet Movie Awards held in California, according to event sponsor Korea Green Foundation (KGF) on Thursday.
KGF announced in a press release that film "Mother - 2009" and Korean movie stars were handed a total of 12 awards in nine different categories at the event, which took place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles on March 23 (local time),...More

Kang Byung-kyu countersues Lee Byung-hun for defamation2010/03/24, Source,
TV personality Kang Byung-kyu [Park Sung-ki/Asia Economic Daily]
Baseball player-turned-TV personality Kang Byung-kyu, who was indicted last week for defamation and attempted blackmail against top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun, has countersued the Hallyu star on charges of defamation.
The former athlete held a press conference at Seocho Art Hall in Seoul on Wednesday, announcing he had filed a suit against Lee Byung-hun after being "wrongly accused" of his involvement in a feud between the actor and his ex-girlfriend identified by her last name Kwon,...More

Korean star Lee Byung-hun cleared of gambling charges2010/03/22, Source,
Actor Lee Byeong-heon [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun has been cleared of illegal gambling charges filed against him last year by his former girlfriend. The Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office ruled Friday that "there is no evidence" Lee had been involved in habitual gambling overseas, an allegation made early December by the Korean-Canadian woman identified only by her last name Kwon. A legal dispute between the two fired up when Kwon lodged a complaint to court saying she was allured into having a sexual relationship with the actor on his false promises of marriage and demanded she be compensated for physical and psychological damage she suffered,...More

Jeong Woo-seong pic "Reign of Assassins" Korea release confirmed2010/03/10, Source,
Actor Jeong Woo-seong [Taurus Films]
Korean actor Jeong Woo-seong's international debut film "Reign of Assassins" has been confirmed to open in Korea, according to the film's distributor Sungwon I Communications on Wednesday.
Sungwon announced in a press release that the action flick, which stars the Korean actor and Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha", will be released in Korea in August.,...More

Among the various factors that constitute human life, culture has the greatest capacity to nurture connections and exchange. One culture quickly absorbs the advantages of another culture and develops to integrate naturally into a large wave.

Epik High interviewed by CNN Talk Asia2010/02/22, Source,
Epik High member Tablo and CNN Talk Asia anchorwoman Anjali Rao [Woolim Entertainment]
Korean hip-hop band Epik High is set to appear on CNN's Talk Asia, according to their agency Woolim Entertainment on Monday.
The group recently conducted an interview with the show's anchorwoman Anjali Rao, where they talked about their difficulties, success and future ambitions.
"We were glad that CNN showed great interest in the depth and diversity of Korean music", Epik High member Tablo was quoted as saying. "It was an undeserving honor to represent and introduce our own kind of hip-hop to all over the world".,...More

Korean heartthrob Lee Byung-hun has been offered a role in an American TV series, officials from his agency,...More

Lee Byung-hun role to expand in sequel to G.I. Joe2010/02/02, Source,
Scene from "G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra" [Paramount Pictures]
Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun may be headed to establishing firmer ground in Hollywood.
Paramount Pictures, the creators of "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra", has reportedly decided to give Lee's character Storm Shadow more weight in the second installment of the action flick set for release in 2012.
Paramount judged that the Korean actor contributed much to the success of the first pic and are developing on the stories surrounding Storm Shadow.,...More

IRIS set to air during prime time in Japan2010/02/01, Source,
Korean blockbuster drama "IRIS" [Taewon Entertainment]
Korean blockbuster drama "IRIS" is set to air during prime time on Japanese television, according to the show's producer Taewon Entertainment on Monday.
Taewon said Japanese broadcaster TBS announced the Korean TV series will run Wednesday evenings at 9 p.m., a slot usually assigned to domestic TV dramas.
Artist View, the show's marketing promoter in the country, explained that such programming is proof that Japanese people are looking forward to watching a Korean blockbuster action drama, not just Hallyu fans expecting to watch a Korean dramas and its cast.,...More

Lee Byung-hun wins best jewellery wearer award in Japan2010/01/29, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun and Madame Miyuki at the International Jewelry Tokyo event [BH Entertainment]
Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun has won an award for being the best jewellery wearer alongside Japan's First Lady at a jewellery event in Tokyo held Wednesday.
According to his agency BH Entertainment, the actor attended the opening ceremony of the International Jewellery Tokyo 2010 and jointly won a special award in the category with Miyuki Hatoyama.,...More

Lee Byung-hun questioned by authorities all night 2010/01/22, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun -- who is currently engaged in a legal battle with his former girlfriend -- was questioned by Korean authorities last night, according to a source at Seoul Central District Court.
"We summoned Lee and with his consent, held an investigation from 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening through 5 a.m. the next morning", an official with the Korean Prosecutors' Office was quoted as saying on Thursday. He explained that the night-long questioning was regarding the two lawsuits filed by the actor and one filed against him.,...More

Lee Byung-hun's verdict hearing set for February2010/01/20, Source,
Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun [Asia Economic Daily]
The verdict hearing for Hallyu star Lee Byung-hun and his ex-girlfriend is set to take place on February 18 at the Seoul Central District Court, although neither party is likely to attend the hearing as it will be a civil trial.
On December 8, a Korean-Canadian woman, identified by the last name Kwon had filed a lawsuit against the actor for allegedly alluring her into a sexual relationship on false promises of marriage. She asked to be paid KRW 100 million won in physical and psychological damages and also accused the actor of taking part in heavy gambling overseas.
Lee had taken counter legal action against Kwon as well, suing for libel, and posted a hand-written message on his official website about the incident.,...More

More than half of Asian tourists visited Seoul after watching commercials and television dramas of the nation's capital, according to the latest Nielsen survey of 3,200 tourists from China, Japan and Taiwan last October and December.

Lee Byung-hun to receive Asian Star award tomorrow2010/01/14, Source,
Hallyu star Byeong-heon [Asia Economic Daily]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun will receive the Asia Star award at the 2010 Asia Model Awards tomorrow, according to the Korea Model Association (KMA) on Thursday.
At the event, hosted by KMA and KOFICE (Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange), the actor will be commended for his contribution in promoting Asian cultural content through his acting work.,...More

Song Hye-kyo, Kang Dong-won to star in Asian omnibus pic2010/01/12, Source,
Actress Song Hye-kyo (right) and actor Kang Dong-won, who have been cast to star in Korean director Jang Joon-hwan's "Love for Sale". [BAL CON]
Several of South Korea's top actors including actress Song Hye-kyo and actor Kang Dong-won have been cast in a multinational omnibus film by directors from Korea, Japan and Thailand, according to the film's production company on Tuesday.
BAL CON announced in a statement that the film, tentatively titled "Busan Project", will be composed of three episodes each set in the past, present and future of the city of Busan in Korea.
Based in Korea during the 1970s, the first segment, titled "Iron Pussy", will be directed by Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng and star Korean actor Kim Min-joon and Thai-American actor Michael Shaowanasai. Shawananasai will play the role of a male secret agent from Thailand in disguise of a woman who later falls in love with an unidentifiable Korean man, played by Kim.,...More

Dae-sung to replace T.O.P. in new Song Ji-na drama2010/01/04, Source,
Big Bang member Dae-sung [Asia Economic Daily]
Dae-sung, member of popular boy band Big Bang, will replace T.O.P., the rapper of the same group, to star in a new TV series by famed writer Song Ji-na.
"Dae-sung will take off his acting career starting by making an appearance in 'Zero Plus'", an official at the group's agency YG Entertainment told Asia Economic Daily over the phone on Monday.
T.O.P., whose real name is Choi Seung-hyeon, had originally been tapped to play the main character but decided to withdraw from the drama due to a conflict of schedule. He had made his acting debut in 2007 drama "I Am Sam" and last appeared in hit blockbuster drama "IRIS" alongside Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee.,...More

Lee Byung-hun scores triple wins at KBS Acting Awards2010/01/04, Source,
Korean actor Lee Byung-hun at 2009 KBS Acting Awards [KBS]
Top Korean actor Lee Byung-hun won three awards -- including the grand prize -- at the 2009 KBS Acting Awards, held at KBS Open Hall on December 31. Lee was awarded the top acting prize of the year for his role in blockbuster drama "IRIS" and also won the Best Couple and Netizens' Choice awards. "I started acting at KBS", said the actor in his acceptance speech. "When I had just debuted at KBS I heard about the acting awards.. I wondered if I would ever be able to go up on that stage. The very next year, I won the Best New Actor award". He went on to say, "And now I've won Grand Prize on this stage. I'm very touched". He thanked the staff, actress Su-ae who -- believing Lee would win -- sent him a congratulatory text message in advance and his mother.,...More

[FOCUS] 10 Awards - Top 10 Entertainment News of 2009 2009/12/30, Source, Top 10 News of 2009
Two former presidents and a king passed away. One wrong remark during an entertainment show took the entire country by storm. Such unbelievably enormous incidents were played out in unbelievable directions during 2009. Thus, the top ten news of 2009 selected by <10 Asia> may seem like the ten most incredulous news of the year. But one could say that what these ten news stories have in common is that they carry the flow of Korea's pop culture. Can you really believe that all these things happened within a span of one year?
News 1. Actress Jang Ja-yeon commits suicide
Actress Jang Ja-yeon [KBS]
On March 7, one little known actress wrote in her suicide note, "I am a weak, powerless actress. I want to be free from this pain" and killed herself. It was actress Jang Ja-yeon, who was appearing in KBS TV series "Boys over Flowers" at the time. The suicide note, which was 12 pages long on A4-sized paper, explained that she had been physically abused by her agency, forced to drink and provide sexual services. It also listed names of high-ranking executives in the industry, including a head of media company, television drama director and owners of business companies. People started calling the note "The Jang Ja-yeon List". The incident brought to surface how badly aspiring actresses and female celebrities in general have been violated and the ugly power of the media. But due to slow, passive investigation by the Korean authorities, the truth never came to light. Of all people who were under investigation, only two people involved in the incident -- former head of Jang's agency and former manager who exposed Jang's suicide notes -- were indicted and the suspects whose names were listed in the documents were all cleared of charges and let go. Was the death of Jang Ja-yeon a suicide or a homicide?,...More

The past year represented hope and revitalization for Korean cinema. While problems such as piracy linger on, the forecast for 2010 cinema appears promising with diverse projects in the making.

Cineastes are finding inspiration from the past and are bringing rem,...More

2009 Year in Review: Sports & Culture2009/12/24, Source, The reigning queen of figure skating Kim Yu-na kicked off the year, winning her first senior-level gold medal at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in February.
The 19-year-old superstar then continued on a roll becoming the world's first female skater to surpass a combined score of 2,...More

Kang Ji-hwan's Movie Picks2009/12/23, Source,
Korean actor Kang Ji-hwan [photographed by Lee Won-woo/10Asia]
There are usually two ways that male actors can have a competitive advantage on television and movie screens. He can be drop-dead gorgeous or have drop-dead fantastic acting skills. Of course, not all actors fulfill either one requirement completely, but in most cases one could tell how much an actor satisfied each requirement. But what makes Kang Ji-hwan interesting is that one cannot quite discern exactly how handsome or how great of an actor he is.
Of course, Kang Ji-hwan has an attractive smile and is a very detailed actor. But his appeal comes from that certain something that goes beyond good looks and good acting skills. In other words, there are other actors who are more attractive and more talented than he is, but one cannot easily think of any actor that is better suited for roles in the following movies -- Hong Gil-dong in "Hong Gil-dong", Sunwoo Wan in "Capital Scandal" and Jae-joon in "My Girlfriend is an Agent". This isn't simply because he played these characters well. For parts like Hong Gil-dong, who trudges around with a knapsack and a pole, and the cheesy, immature Modern Boy who is busy seducing women in a midst of societal chaos [in "Capital Scandal"), Kang's looks and acting are a perfect fit for making such comic book-ish characters come to life. Few actors can pull off a really difficult role but it is just as rare to find an actor like Kang, who can play around with interesting characters. So it comes as no surprise that Kang would recommend such comical, imaginative movies as below.,...More

(10 FOCUS) 10 Awards - Top 10 People of 20092009/12/22, Source, Top 10 People of 2009
In the entertainment industry, the end of a year is a season about watching and talking about "people". Many media outlets select their "person of the year" and people flock to year-end awards shows to hear a quote from stars that they do not get to see often. 10Asia picked our own figures of the year, but there is no red carpet or photo spotlights for the stars to enter upon. Our selection of "persons of 2009" are not top stars who attained the most popularity from the public, but people who changed the landscape of Korea's entertainment industry and stimulated the public with experiences that we had not had before. Here are ten people who showed us a new direction for upcoming 2010.,...More

Kim Tae-hee says was "lifeless" before taking up acting2009/12/21,
KBS TV series "IRIS" ended its run last week while viewers were left to wonder why main character Hyun-joon (played by Lee Byung-hun) die. And Choi Seung-hee (Kim Tae-hee) mysteriously remains standing at the center of this story which ended with an open ending. She turned out to be the unexpected twist at the end of the drama which helped her character leave a stronger impression rather than ending up being the typical passive female who yields to her man's wishes. Kim talked to reporters last Friday, the day after the blockbuster spy drama aired its final episode. Q: You must feel quite different about this drama compared to your past works.Kim Tae-hee (Kim): Actors usually say they feel mixed emotions of both joy and sadness when they're done with a film or drama. I had felt more relief with my past roles but I think the sadness is greater this time. I think it's because we had been in shoot for a long time and I had been active in laying forth my own ideas for the drama too while monitoring my scenes in the editing room. I was very stressed while working on it but I have a deep affection for it.,...More

Many Internet users have recently become unlicensed detectives in an "investigation squad" they have formed. Members of the squad, called "NCSI" ㅡ a combination of "N" from netizen and "CSI", which stands for a crime scene investigation team in the United St,...More

Busan - The 14th edition of the Pusan (Busan) International Film Fstival (PIFF) kicked off Thursday with glitz and glam. Some 150 star cineastes and VIP guests walked the red carpet, sizzling up the cool autumn evening at the seaside resort.

One of Asia's Largest Int'l Film Festival Kicks Off in Busan2009/10/08, Source, One of Asia's largest film events… the Pusan International Film Festival kicked off at the Suyoungman Yacht Marina in Korea's southeastern port city of Busan on Thursday.
With more than a hundred star-studded celebrities and filmmakers in attendance… the night was filled with glitz and glam, excite,...More

Haeundae Steals Spotlight at Pusan Film Festival2009/10/08, Source, The Suyeong Bay area in Busan was packed on the evening of October 8, when the opening ceremony of the 14th Pusan International Film Festival was held. All 5,000 seats of the venue were filled. The less fortunate ones among the movie fans had to stay outside.

It will be held on the biggest scale ever this year, featuring 355 films from 70 nations. With a budget expansion of nearly one billion won bringing the total up to 9.95 billion, the coa,...More

PIFF's Record Ticket Sales2009/10/01, Source, With the opening of Pusan International Film Festival's box office on Sept. 23, nearly half the general screenings have sold out. Of the record 355 films in the program, 159 sold out in less than an hour. Quickest to go was the Guest Visit screening of "I Come With the Rain", starring Korea's top,...More

The Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival (PIFF) will open its 14th edition with a star-studded local drama, organizers announced Tuesday, spotlighting the recovery of the South Korean movie industry.

[ChanMi's star news] Lee Byung-hun's charisma2009/08/19, Source, Actor Lee Byung-hun has been chosen as the film industry's number 1 actor to become a maestro!
Lee has ranked number 1 with 28% in a fashion magazine "ESQUIRE" for this criterion surveying 745 subscribers.
With his acting in "G.I. Joe" as shadow storm, where he showed his great charisma and is rising as a global star.,...More

[ChanMi's take] Fashion errors!2009/08/10, Source, They have handsome and beautiful faces with a great body. However, if they don't wear clothes that match or are styled erroneously, then fans are bound to be disappointed.
Is it the fashion coordinator's fault?
Not entirely, the fashion coordinator brings clothes to the star and the stars wear it according to,...More

[ChanMi's star news] Lee Byung-hun returns to Korea!2009/07/28, Source, Actor Lee Byung-hun came to Korea along with Channing Tatum and Steven Sommers the "G.I. Joe" team. The promotion even will be the first for some of the cast in this film to be in Korea.
They have been in Japan for press meetings and seemed tired as they tried to be enthusiastic in greeting their fans.
Around 200 Japanese fans were in the plane with him returning to Korea and 150 of Korean fans were waiting for Lee at the airport. Lee was very generous in greeting his fans with a big smile.,...More

The director and main cast of "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra", including British screen beauty Sienna Miller and hallyu star Lee Byung-hun, will visit Korea later this month to promote the Hollywood action flic,...More